Chocolate City Records
Encyclopedia
Chocolate City Records was a record label
subsidiary of Casablanca Records & Filmworks
. It was started in 1975 by Cecil Holmes
, Neil Bogart's
partner at Casablanca. In 1980 the label was sold to Polygram along with Casablanca; in 1983 Chocolate City Records went out of business and Cecil Holmes left Casablanca Records & Filmworks and went on to be the VP of Black music for CBS Records.
, with singles "Find My Way" and "Rigor Mortis".
The next groups to sign for Chocolate City were Brenda & the Tabulations
, with their slow jam
entitled "Home To Myself", and Blacksmoke
, whose self-titled debut Blacksmoke featured the two singles "Your Love Has Got Me Screaming" and "There It Is".
In 1977, both Cameo and Brenda & The Tabulations recorded their first albums for Chocolate City Records. Cameo titled their first album Cardiac Arrest. The two singles were "Funk Funk" and "Post Mortem". The first Brenda & The Tabulations album was I Keep Coming Back For More, from which the singles "Let's Go All The Way (Down)" and "Superstar" were taken. In the fall of 1977, Cameo titled their 2nd album We All Know Who We Are. The 4 singles were "C On The Funk", "Why Have I Lost You?", "We All Know Who We Are" and "It's Serious".
In 1978, two new artists signed with Chocolate City Records: the solo singer Vernon Burch
, and Townsend, Townsend, Townsend & Rogers. Burch's album was titled Love-A-Thon, with singles "Brighter Days" and "Love Is"; Townsend, Townsend, Townsend & Rogers' album was self-titled and included the single "Bring It Down To The Real".
Four new groups signed with the label in 1980. Randy Brown, who was originally signed to Parachute Records, released his first album under Chocolate City Records: Midnight Desire. Two singles included on this album were "We Outta Be Doin' It" and "It's The Next Best Thing (To Being There)". 7th Wonder, also originally signed to Parachute, released their first album under Chocolate City Records: Thunder. The album included the singles "The Tilt" and "I Enjoy Ya". Starpoint
released their self-titled first album. Three hit singles from the album were "I Just Wanna Dance With You", "Get Ready, Get Down" and "Gonna Lift You Up". Kevin Moore
released an album entitled Rainmaker, with the hit single "The Way You Hold Me".
In January Of 1976, Another Group Called The Funkateers Signed With Chocolate City. They Recorded Their Hit Single Titled, "Give What You Got."
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
subsidiary of Casablanca Records & Filmworks
Casablanca Records
Casablanca Records was an American record label started by Neil Bogart, who partnered with Cecil Holmes, Larry Harris, and Buck Reingold in 1973, and based in Los Angeles. The label was formed after all of them had left Buddah Records and secured financing by Warner Bros. Records to start the venture...
. It was started in 1975 by Cecil Holmes
Cecil Holmes
Cecil Holmes was a co-founder of Casablanca Records and a founder of Chocolate City Records.In 1986, while working at Columbia's black music division, he signed The New Kids on the Block to their first record contract.-References:...
, Neil Bogart's
Neil Bogart
Neil Bogart was an American record executive. He is perhaps best known as the founder of Casablanca Records, with Peter Guber....
partner at Casablanca. In 1980 the label was sold to Polygram along with Casablanca; in 1983 Chocolate City Records went out of business and Cecil Holmes left Casablanca Records & Filmworks and went on to be the VP of Black music for CBS Records.
Recording history
The label's first group were The New York City Players, who later changed their name to CameoCameo (band)
Cameo is an American soul-influenced funk group that formed in the early 1970s. Cameo was initially a 13-member group known as the New York City Players; this name was later changed to Cameo to avoid a lawsuit from Ohio Players, another group from that era. Since then, Cameo has recorded several...
, with singles "Find My Way" and "Rigor Mortis".
The next groups to sign for Chocolate City were Brenda & the Tabulations
Brenda & the Tabulations
Brenda & the Tabulations were an American R&B group formed in 1966 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally composed of Brenda Payton, Eddie L. Jackson, Maurice Coates and Jerry Jones.-History:...
, with their slow jam
Slow jam
A slow jam an umbrella term for music with R&B and Soul influences. Slow jams are commonly R&B ballads or down tempo songs. The term is most commonly reserved for soft-sounding songs with heavily emotional or romantic lyrical content. This definition has led to intense debate over whether...
entitled "Home To Myself", and Blacksmoke
Blacksmoke (group)
Blacksmoke is a music group produced by Wayne Henderson for At-Home Productions. Originally named Smoke,The group was conceived in Compton, California in 1972. They were signed to Chocolate City Records and distributed by Casablanca Records & Filmworks in 1976. Their initial self-titled album...
, whose self-titled debut Blacksmoke featured the two singles "Your Love Has Got Me Screaming" and "There It Is".
In 1977, both Cameo and Brenda & The Tabulations recorded their first albums for Chocolate City Records. Cameo titled their first album Cardiac Arrest. The two singles were "Funk Funk" and "Post Mortem". The first Brenda & The Tabulations album was I Keep Coming Back For More, from which the singles "Let's Go All The Way (Down)" and "Superstar" were taken. In the fall of 1977, Cameo titled their 2nd album We All Know Who We Are. The 4 singles were "C On The Funk", "Why Have I Lost You?", "We All Know Who We Are" and "It's Serious".
In 1978, two new artists signed with Chocolate City Records: the solo singer Vernon Burch
Vernon Burch
Vernon Darrell Burch is an American R&B/soul singer and guitarist.-Biography:In 1975 Burch signed to United Artists, where he released his debut album, I'll Be Your Sunshine. Later he moved to Columbia Records and then Chocolate City Records, which was distributed by Casablanca Records and Filmworks...
, and Townsend, Townsend, Townsend & Rogers. Burch's album was titled Love-A-Thon, with singles "Brighter Days" and "Love Is"; Townsend, Townsend, Townsend & Rogers' album was self-titled and included the single "Bring It Down To The Real".
Four new groups signed with the label in 1980. Randy Brown, who was originally signed to Parachute Records, released his first album under Chocolate City Records: Midnight Desire. Two singles included on this album were "We Outta Be Doin' It" and "It's The Next Best Thing (To Being There)". 7th Wonder, also originally signed to Parachute, released their first album under Chocolate City Records: Thunder. The album included the singles "The Tilt" and "I Enjoy Ya". Starpoint
Starpoint
Starpoint was an African-American R&B sextet from Maryland that began recording in the 1980s, releasing a string of R&B hit singles. Their 1985 single "Object of My Desire", released on the Elektra label, reached #25 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming their only Top 40 hit on the pop...
released their self-titled first album. Three hit singles from the album were "I Just Wanna Dance With You", "Get Ready, Get Down" and "Gonna Lift You Up". Kevin Moore
Keb' Mo'
Keb' Mo is an American blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter, currently living in Nashville, Tennessee, United States.-Early life:From early on he had an appreciation for the blues and gospel music...
released an album entitled Rainmaker, with the hit single "The Way You Hold Me".
In January Of 1976, Another Group Called The Funkateers Signed With Chocolate City. They Recorded Their Hit Single Titled, "Give What You Got."